资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Gonfalon \Gon"fa*lon\, Gonfanon \Gon"fa*non\, n. [OE. gonfanoun,
   OF. gonfanon, F. gonfalon, the same word as F. confalon, name
   of a religious brotherhood, fr. OHG. gundfano war flag; gund
   war (used in comp., and akin to AS. g[=u][eth]) + fano cloth,
   flag; akin to E. vane; cf. AS. g[=u][eth]fana. See {Vane},
   and cf. {Confalon}.]
   1. The ensign or standard in use by certain princes or
      states, such as the medi[ae]val republics of Italy, and in
      more recent times by the pope.

   2. A name popularly given to any flag which hangs from a
      crosspiece or frame instead of from the staff or the mast
      itself.

            Standards and gonfalons, 'twixt van and rear, Stream
            in the air.                           --Milton.